Federal Railroad Administration April 19, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that it intends to grant the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (``Amtrak'') a waiver to purchase four (4) No. 32.75 136RE Special Turnouts (``Turnouts'') manufactured by voestalpine Nortrak, Inc. (``Nortrak'') for use in the New York City to Trenton, NY, High- Speed Rail Improvements Program (the ``High-Speed Rail Improvements Program'' or ``Program''). The Turnouts will be manufactured by Nortrak in the United States at its facility in Birmingham, Alabama, but will contain two components (ZU1-60 steel switch point rail sections and Schwihag roller assemblies and plates) that are not produced in the U.S. The cost of the Turnouts is approximately $2 million. The foreign material comprises approximately thirteen percent of the Turnouts' cost or approximately $260,000. FRA intends to grant the waiver because domestically-produced components meeting the specific needs of Amtrak for this application (i.e., specialized high-speed turnouts) are not produced in sufficient and reasonably available amount or are not of a satisfactory quality.